Scooter for winter sports



Sept. 14, 1.948. F. sPlTzwlEsE-R" 2,449,336

scoo'rER Fon WINTER sroRTs original Filed Nov. 15. 1945 :s shets-sheet 1 7 -5 Y l; l 4

ATTORNEY Sept. 14, 1948. F. sPn'zwlEsER 2,449,336

scooTER FOR WINTER sPoRTs I OriginaIFiled Nov. 13, 1943 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 |l l I" lll Sept 14,1948. Y F. SPITZWIESER 2,449,336

SCOOTER FOR WINTER SIORTS Original Filed Nov '131a 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY a E r ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1948 S OFFICE;

2,449,336: lsCoo'rmezFloR WINTER SPORTS"- Ferdiiiand Spitzwieser; NewfY'ork; N: Y: substittteafrr application serial No.; 510,104;v

ter-23; 1947; serian No. 775,671

(Cif 28o-46) laifileirrxs.`

This invention' relates fto" new'ifaridlusemlfim'l provenientsi a/scooter t be' used' frasfcto'y for-ies emi/orfanodevice.i

This is a substitute"of-iriyforiginal application flledffon Novenilei'#13,I `1948, `Slzil N; 510,104, new abetricionecl;v

More speciii'oellv4V trici-invention lproposes k1 the constructionof 'amscootr'having a -ple'ttfrimiW-th afvertical 'semi'circular casing;extendirigfupwads from lthe front ofi the fplatform: provld'ngalmeans for steering,` the: rdevice-y Land '4W-hielo "may bef coni structedlof?" armor A"platte providing al4 protective shield b'eli'dI fvvhi'ch"I laffsoldier may Crouch;A

A- still frther "obiect"` offthe invention-is' the provision 'of fspecedf runners* mounted Iuponi .the bfottorrl` of the platform' to permit the kdevicefte-loe conveniently propelldfover the tsi'irfeicelofy snow.

It' is 1 further proposed "to f=provide the front :of the 'platform' withV turnabiv mounted dlicfupon which the bottom lof 74tile semi-circular #casingfis mounted and'fwhiclf4 alsoJ suppor-tsitleflfront irun; ner infn-manner to causeth'e frontrunneritobe turnedl Jvtr-rentlief ca-siri'gyis turned relativeltefthe platformf A 'still fiirther object ofthe linvention;u proposes the provision "oir guns :mounted bnthe-semicircui letiwcetsirfig"ancl-A liaving `rtheir' muzzles rzli'rectedfl to shoot in front ofthe devices A further object 'of the 'invention proposes the provision of a'imeens fforpvot'll/mountiigfthe into exposition which it liestsh on; ther-pltformto permit thedviceeto beconver'iintlycarrie d' in a trucwor -oth'er transporting nivel'iicle,"

For dfiirtlien comprehension 4`ofthis" l invention,

erenceA Will T-loeI 'had-"to the-'-foll'w-iri'g' descritifon arid accompanying drawings; a-iidto'the'appended` f claims in Which "theV varios v`'novelv lfeatures Jof the invention' are* more "particulerlyisetfforth.

In the eccompanying'clrawig forming afmelteral-partoftlis disclosure:

2i; Eig.' "921s ripartitii vertical r seetionfali lvlwzonthe line ill-9 of Figt'; i

Fig.' .10'isa?permitir lrorizontar secton'alivlviewffon thefliie-'I Ill-I @fof FigJ-QL The.scooter; according f to rthisi'invention,.mine

clndes a `vertical'Y semi-"circular casing.f1:m'ounted on the frontoffalplatfrm I I. It.is"poi'rrted out that thescoctergflas shown, mayib constructed to het used as la toy` by 'children` Aor imay'fberlcon; structedf of 'heavienimore durable fm'aterial toi'be used as means oftrarneportarti-orr-.forsoldiers;`

11i the 'latter'case the.cenit-circularcaeingf'l'iis prefere. ly f constructed i of armor plteizandiis bracecibyrrneaii'slof stripsfofmetal I2 extended oiagonailyra'crossthe open side'tlfiereof.. .Aspartiel conical shaped hood I 3 Yis supported upor'the top ofthe eerriiirculr casingll 0 by means offseve'ral brackets I4; The-bottoml'edge' of tlieffhbdlfl 31nl`s spaced 'slightlyabovethe ftop fedgeofthe casirigf'lu behind thecelsng/may 'lookf The platform-I I Imayb`e constriiotediotwood or other similar material "andis provided mltha, rubber coating. I 5 upoo which afpers'on ie-adapted toastandranorzwhich 'acts'las tt` friction elm'eritxfor l lng inf maintaining the'ivehlclefonz'anfeven course.

at its bottom end with an inwardly extended cutout into which the top edge of the central rib I8 extends.

A bolt 21 is extended through the overlapping portions i8 and the shaft 25 for pivotally mounting the front runner upon the bottom of the shaft 26 permitting a slight pivotal motion to permit the front runner to more easily ride over obstacles in its path The top end of the shaft 25 extends through a bearing 28 and is attached thereto by means of a pin 2Q. The free end of the shaft 26 extends through the platform and engages into a thrust bearing 23' mounted on the top face of the platform the tcp thereof, and extending rearwards along the top face of the runner portions I5. This shield 3U acts as a guard to prevent snow and ice from being thrown upwards into the riders face.

The front runner l1 isalso provided with a protective shield 3|) mounted on pivot -rearwarda as indicated by the dot and .i

dash lines I9' shown in Fig. 2, to assume a horizontaly position and rest on the top face of the platform A To accomplish this the disc 3| is provided at diametrically opposite sides with trunnion elements 33 which pass through the .y

lower corner ofthe semi-circular casing lil and which are provided with nuts 34 for securely holding the casing Il! in position thereon. The trunnions 33 permit rearward pivoting of the casing IIJ to reduce the over all size of the device and permit a number of superimposed scooters to be conveniently carried in a truck body to be transported from place to place.

' yFor convenience of the operator the casing ||l isprovided on vdiametrically opposite sides with L handles 35 which may be gripped for turning the casing to steer the device. The casing I3 is also .provided with a plurality of guns 33. If the device is -to be Aused as atoy the guns 36 should also be toys. However, if the device is constructedqfor use in warfare the guns 36 might be of the machinegun or other semi-automatic type,

capable of shooting a low calibre bullet.

yA means is provided for latching the casing |0-in a verticalposition on the platform to prevent relative pivoting. This means comprises a bolt, member 31 pivotally mounted upon a bracket 38 attached to the inside face of the 'casing |93.. A keeperA 39 ismounted on the top face of the disc 3| and is adapted to be engaged by the bolt 31 for locking the casingagainst pivoting; `A means is provided for urging the bolt 31 into a position 4in which it engages the keeper 39. .This means comprises a pin 40 attached to the free end-of the bolt 31 and passing through i .anopening 42 formed in the front of the casing |0. A spring 4| is coaxially mounted upon the mounted-.upon a bracket 44 attached to the in- :i

. sideface of the casing ||l above the bolt31.

The bell crank 43 has one arm bearing against the free end of the bolt 31 on the side opposed to the side engaged by the spring 42. The other arm of the bell crank 43 is free to be engaged by ones foot for pivoting the bell crank and in turn pivot the bolt 31.

A resilient means is provided between the disc 3| and the front end of the front runner I1 for urging the front runner int-o a normal horizontal position relative to the disc 3|. This means comprises a spring 45 having a coiled central portion with one end secured to the bottom face of the disc 3| by means of a bolt 46. The other end of the spring a5 is looped and passed through an opening :l1 formed in the central rib |8 of thev front runner |1. The spring 45 normally acts to restrain the front runner l1 from pivoting about the bolt 21.

A drawer G8 is supported at an intermediate area on the bottom face of the platform |I. This drawer 48 is supported by means of a wide bracket t9 and is adapted to be used for `carrying ammunition or other similar articles.

The rear runner I6 is also providedwith a braking device for permitting the forward motion of the device to be conveniently retarded when desired. This means comprises a brake platform 55 having its front edge resting upon thetop face of the rear portion of theplatform ll. Pivotally mounted to the bottom face of the brake platform 50 is an inverted U-shaped member 5|. This inverted U-shaped member 5| has its side arms directed downwards and provided at their free ends with pointed portions 52which are adapted to engage the ground and dig into the same to retard the forward motion of the device when the operator steps upon the brake platform 5b. A means is provided for holding the brake device in an inoperative position. This means comprises a bracket 53 having one of its ends pivotally attached to the downwardly extending arms of the inverted U-shaped member 5| and its other end pivotally attached into the pin 54which attaches the rear runner I6 to the rod 24. A spring 55 operates between the bracket 53 and the bottom face ofthe platform H for raising the bracket 53 to in turn raise the inverted U-shaped member 5|.

A bell 56 is mounted on the side of the platform-|| and has an operative member 51 extending rearwards therefrom to be urged upwards to cause the bell 56 to ring. A lever 58 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon a pin 59 mounted on the side of the platform 51. The rear end of the lever 58 is securely attached to the brake platform 50. The front endof the lever 58 is arranged immediately adjacent the operating lever of the bell 56. Thus when the operator steps upon the Abrake platform to retard forward motion of the vehicle the lever 58 will pivot causing the bell 56 toring and indicate to the operators of following scooters that the front scooter is being slowed down and that they should take similar action to avoid collision. y Y i The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the device is constructed for use in warfare, the soldier stands upon the platform grips the handles 35 and propels himself forward across the snow by using one foot to; push on the ground while the other foot rests upon the platform.A To turn the device the casing I0 is turned and this movement is transmitted tothe front runner |1 .through the connection of the front runner with the casing l0 through the obstacles with greater ease, a dis-c supporting said semi-circular casing and being turnably mounted on the front of said platform coaxially of said turnably. mounted runner, a trunnion mounted on said disc and connected with the rear side portions of said semi-circular casing for pivotally supporting said casing so that it may pivot rearwards, means for latching said casing in its vertical position on said disc, and resilient means between said disc and said front runner for urging said front runner in a normal horizontal position relative to said disc, said means for latching said casing comprising a bolt pivotally mounted upon said casing and engaging a complementary keeper mounted upon said disc, resilient means urging said bolt to continually engage said keeper, and means for releasing said bolt when desired.

8. In a scooter having a vertical semi-.circular casing positionedat the front of a platform, runners supporting said platform and including a turnably mounted front runner for steering the scooter and pivotal-1y mountedl for riding over obstacles with greater ease, a disc supporting said semi-circular casing and being turnably mounted on the front of said platform coaxially of said turnably mounted runner, a trunnion mounted on said disc and connected with the rear side portions of said semi-circular casing for pivotally supporting said casing so that it may pivot rearwards, means for latching said casing in its vertical position on said disc, and resilient means between said disc and said front runner for urging said front runner in a normal horizontal position relative to said disc, said means for latching said casing comprising a bolt pivotaily mounted upon said casing and engaging a complementary keeper mounted upon said disc, resilient means urging said bolt to continually engage said keeper, and means for releasing said bolt when desired, said latter means comprising a pivotally mounted bell crank having one arm engaging saidbolt and a free arm to be engaged by ones foot to be pivoted to correspondingly pivot said bolt to disengage it from said keeper.

. 9. In a scooter having a vertical semi-circular casing positioned at the front of a platform, runners supporting said platform and including a turnably mounted front runner for steering the scooter and pivotally mounted for riding over obstacles with greater ease, a disc supporting said semi-circular casing and being turnably mounted on the front of said platform coaxially of said turnably mounted runner, a trunnion mounted on said disc and connected with the rear side portions of said semi-circular casing for pivotally supporting said ,casing so that it may pivot rearwards, means for latching said casing in its vertical position on said disc, and resilient means between said disc and said front runner for urging said front runner in a normal horizontal position relative to said disc, said resilient means comprising a spring `having one end secured to said disc and the other end secured to said runner.

10. In a scooter having a vertical semi-circular casing positioned at the front of a platform, runners supporting said platform and including a turnably mounted front runner for steering the scooter and pivotally mounted for riding over obstacles with greater ease, a disc supporting said semi-circular casing and being turnably mounted on the front of said platform coaxially of said turnably mounted runner, a trunnionm-ounted on Seid disc and connected with the rear side porsupporting said casing so that it may pivot rear- Wards, means for latching said casing in its vertical position on said disc, and resilient means between said disc and said front runner for urging said front runner in a normal horizontal position relative to said disc, and a vdrawer supported upon the bottom face of said platform intermediate the ends thereof for carrying ammunition and other similar articles.

11. In a scooter having a vertical semi-circular casing positioned at the front of a platform, runners supporting said platform and including a turnably mounted front runner for steering the scooter and pivotally mounted for riding over obstacles with greater ease, a disc supporting said semi-circular casing and being turnably mounted on the front of said platform coaxially of said turnably mounted runner, a trunnion mounted on said disc and connected with the rear side portions of said semi-circular casing for pivotally supporting said casing so that it may pivot rearwards, means for latching said casing in its vertical position on said disc, and resilient means between said disc and said front runner for urging said front runner in a normal horizontal position relative to said disc, and a brake device provided on the rear portion of said platform for retarding the forward motion of said device when stepped upon.

12. In a scooter having a vertical semi-circular casing positioned at the front of a platform, runners supporting said platform and including' a turnably mounted front runner for steering the scooter and pivotally mounted for riding over obstacles with greater ease, a disc supporting said semi-circular casing and being turnably mounted on the front of said platform coaxially of said turnably mounted runner, a trunnion mounted on said disc and connected with the rear side portions of said semi-circular casing for pivotally supporting said casing so that it may pivot rearwards, means for latohing said casing in its vertical position on said disc, and resilient means between said disc and said front runner for urging said front runner in a normal horizontal position relative to said disc, and a brake device provided on the rear portion of said platform for retarding the forward motion of said device when stepped upon, said brake comprising a brake platform resting upon the top face of said platform, an inverted U-shaped member pivotally mounted on said brake platform and having pointed side arms directed downwards to enga-ge the surface over which said device is traveling. and means for causing said brake to be moved to a normal inoperative position.

13. In a scooter having a vertical semi-circular casing positioned at the front of a platform, runners supporting said platform and including a turnably mounted front runner for steering the scooter and pivotally mounted for riding over obstacles with greater ease, a disc supporting said semi-circular casing and `being turnably mounted 9 tarding the forward motion yof said device when Number stepped upon, and a bell arranged to ring when 1,445,219 said brake is operated to indicate that the brake 1,452,636 is Ibeing applied. 1,504,504

Name Date Larson Feb. 13, 1923 Bowden Apr. 24, 1923 Randolph Aug. 12, 1924 Wetzel Jan. 30,1934 Ericson May 4, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Denmark Aug. 30, 1937 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1934 Switzerland July 16, 1936 France Feb, 4, 1929 

